Obituary: Geneva NorrisGeneva Norris, 78, of Dardanelle departed this life Thursday, May 1, 2013, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 5 1934, to John and Lida Mae Chessener Woods. She was a member of the Dardanelle Assembly of God and a member of the Eastern Star of Dardanelle, Chapter 589. Her hobbies included watching her grandkids play ball and was well known for her chocolate fried pies. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brother...

Obituary: Seth Ward IILITTLE ROCK — Seth “Skeeter” Ward II, born April 20, 1953, in Irving, Texas, died in his home in Little Rock on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. A lifelong tinkerer, Skeeter’s mechanical ingenuity was boundless. There was nothing he couldn’t repair or otherwise “improve,” sometimes to his wife’s great dismay. He patented numerous inventions, most notably the world’s first solar-powered parking meter. Lesser-known inventions include custom can lights, e...

Obituary: James Paul SearsDUMAS, Texas — James Paul Sears, 50, of Dumas, Texas, died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, in Amarillo, Texas. Paul’s final wishes were that no memorial services be conducted, so the family is respecting those wishes. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Dumas, 500 N. Maddox., Dumas, TX. Paul, as he was called by all he knew and loved him, was born on July 21, 1962, in Morrilton to Carolyn and Shelby Sears. He married Carolyn McC...

Death notice: Joanne ProchazkaJoanne T. Prochazka, 49, of Russellville passed away Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Piedmont Henry Medical Center in McDonough, Ga. Funeral arrangements are pending at Humphrey Funeral Service. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition of The Courier.

Obituary: Raymond DuesterbeckRaymond O. Duesterbeck, 88, of Russellville died Wednesday, May 1, 2013. He was born Oct. 23, 1924, in Delavan, Wis., to William and Clarice Smith Duesterbeck. Raymond was an airplane mechanic in the United States Army Air Corps. He was a Methodist, a member of Milwaukee Carpenters Union and a retired construction superintendent. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy Jean Duesterbeck; two brothers, Chuck and Harold Duester...

Obituary; Marlin Murray Smith, Jr.WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Marlin Murray Smith, Jr., 55, was carried on the wings of an angel to heaven on Sunday, April 28, 2013. Marlin, a superb angler, hunter, husband, father and son was born on Jan. 1, 1958, in Monrovia, Calif. A practicing Roman Catholic, he served as usher and religious education teacher in the churches he attended over the years. He was a registered parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warner Robins, Ga. With prid...

Obituary: Cheryl FieldsCheryl Denise Cochran Fields, 51, of Russellville passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at UAMS Hospital in Little Rock. The daughter of Ira and Wanda Ruble Cochran, she was born Jan. 28, 1962, in Russellville. She was a 1980 graduate of Russellville High School and received her Bachelor of Science in education in 1985 from Arkansas Tech University. She taught first grade at Pyron Elementary School in ...

Obituary: Charles HesslerCharles (Chuck) Hessler, 63, passed away on Jan, 7, 2013, in Italy. Chuck was a retired veteran with 26 years in the U.S. Air Force. He served as senior master sergeant. He was in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. He truly loved his country. He also volunteered at the hospital and sat with many Hospice patients. He really enjoyed helping others. He was a member of the VFW and was treasurer for AA. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; five dau...

Obituary: Thomas LambThomas Adren Lamb, 75, of Russellville passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at his home. The son of Paul and Margaret Sleigh Lamb, he was born Nov. 18, 1937, in Amity. He was a 1955 graduate of Amity High School and attended DeVry Institute of Technology. He served four years in the United States Navy during the Cold War as an aviation mechanic working on the F-4 Phantom Jet. He was a resident field e...

Obituary: Joyce HamptonDARDANELLE — Joyce Ann “Whitecotton” Hampton, 75, of Delaware died Monday, April 29, 2013, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 11, 1937, at Paris to the late Lindley Murry and Mable Garner Whitecotton. She was a Christian and an honorary member of the Delaware First Baptist Church. She loved to play pitch, bingo, knitting afghans, going fishing and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; ...

Obituary: Leona GintherLeona Marguerite Ginther (nee Bonneau), 89, of Russellville went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. The daughter of Louise and Arthur Bonneau, she was born June 5, 1923, in Hammond, Ind. She was a 1941 graduate of Hammond High School and was employed during WWII with The Blaw-Knox Company in East Chicago, Ind. Following the war, she married Robert Ginther (2007) on September 13, 1947 at All Saints Church in Hammond, Ind. She ...

Obituary: Elmer StevensDARDANELLE — Elmer Lee Stevens fell asleep in death Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the age of 76. He was born April 7, 1937, at Campus, Ill., to the late Oliver and Myrtle Stevens, but spent most of his younger years in Dwight, Ill., graduating from Dwight High School in 1955. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Royal Stevens, Harold Stevens, George Stevens, Earl Stevens, Esty Stevens and Robert Stevens; seven sisters, Goldie Murphy, Dorot...

Death notice: Joyce HamptonDARDANELLE — Joyce Ann “Whitecotton” Hampton, 75, of Delaware died Monday, April 29, 2013, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2, 2013, at the Delaware First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Graves Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted today from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. A complete obit will be published in Thursday’s edition of The Courier. Arrangements are by Cornwell Fu...

Obituary: James AlexanderJames Henry Alexander, 88, of Russellville went home to be with his Lord on Monday, April 29, 2013. The son of Frances and Ella Alexander, he was born Nov. 4, 1924, in Ruston, La. He honorably served in WWII on the USS Princeton, Independence class aircraft carrier, and U.S.S. Bremerton, heavy cruiser. After returning from the war, he married the love of his life for 65 years, Blanche Fetterolf. In 1972 they moved from Ruston, La., to Russellv...

Obituary: William CoatsWilliam Dwight Coats, 59, of Russellville died Saturday, April 27, 2013. He was born March 14, 1954, in Pine Bluff. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He was a United States Marine who served as a diplomatic guard and he also served in the United States Army. Survivors include his wife, Tonia Jean Coats; son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Betty Coats, Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Freda Scribner, Pine Bluff; three grandchildren...

Obituary: Rebecca StacyRebecca E. Stacy, 87, of Fort Smith passed away Friday, April 26, 2013, at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith. The daughter of Ray Lee Sr. and Alta Lee, she was born Nov. 29, 1925, in Russellville. Survivors include her son, Perry John Stacy of Fort Smith and numerous extended family and friends. Rebecca was laid to rest next to her husband, Perry Earl Stacy on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Oakland Cemetery in Russellville by Humphrey ...

Obituary: Susie E. WhortonSusie E. Whorton, 47, of Pottsville passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at UAMS Hospital in Little Rock. The daughter of Charles and Renata Stiener Reuss, she was born March 3, 1966, in Heidelberg, Germany. She married the love of her life, Michael Whorton, on April 5, 1986, in Pottsville. She worked at Simmons First Bank for more than 14 years and was the branch manager at Valley Park Center in Russellville. Susie was a member of London First...

Obituary: Susie OnaschDARDANELLE — Susie Onasch, 55, of Flat Rock died Thursday, April 25, 2013, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. She was born Sept. 12, 1957, at home in Blytheville to the late Bill and Lillie Jones Doss. She was a dedicated cleaning lady for many people and a custodian at Wesley Methodist and St. John’s Lutheran for many years. She was a devoted member of the Wesley UMC for 34 years. She loved teddy bears and dogs. She also loved people, nev...

Obituary: Robert MetzgerCLARKSVILLE — Robert E. Lee Metzger, 85, of Lamar passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, in Clarksville. He was born May 3, 1927, at St. Charles and was a retired carpenter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora Cleo and Esther Mae Williams Metzger; two sons, William Cleo Metzger and Robert Lee Metzger; and daughter, Joyce Ann Metzger. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Virginia Asbury Metzger of Lamar; sons, Thomas Edward Metzger of Arizo...